The effect of 5 cycles of biparental mass selection on a narrow base maize population based on phenotype, combining ability, and SSR analyses

Abstract

Five cycles of biparental mass selection (MS) were carried out to improve the narrow-base maize population P4C0. In different ecological environments, the phenotypes of the developed populations were analyzed, the combining abilities were tested according to an incomplete diallel model to study the effects of selection, and the effects of MS on genetic diversity of the populations were also analyzed by using 51 pairs of SSR markers. It was found that MS was effective in improving the main traits and general combing ability (GCA), and it was effective on maintain¬ing the genetic diversity of the population. At the same time, the genetic structure was changed with advance of selection.